Waters, 23, stood with his back to Judge Cypert O. Whitfill, hands buried in his pockets, as his public defender, Ronald M. Stahl, had each of the 12 jury members polled. And 168 times the jurors responded, "Guilty."

Waters was living with his girlfriend in the Edgewater Village apartments when police arrested him Dec. 14. He was charged with multiple counts of solicitation to commit murder, attempted murder, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, assault and using a handgun while committing a violent crime.

The arrest followed a 12-day series of events that began Dec. 2 and stemmed from an ongoing dispute over drugs.

On that date, testimony in the three-day trial showed, Waters agreed to sell a nickel-plated handgun to Cpl. Barry Williams, working undercover for the state police on a case involving stolen guns.

Mr. Williams said that after Waters made the deal to sell the gun, he asked the undercover officer's help in killing four men.

Corporal Williams said Waters met him again Dec. 4 and outlined plans to murder the four at an Edgewater Village apartment. Corporal Williams agreed to help, but told Waters he wanted more guns.

Testimony also showed that on Dec. 14, before the deal for the extra guns had been completed, Waters fired five shots at two of the four men as they ran across a foot bridge behind the Edgewood Shopping Center.

In his defense, Waters said he had never met Corporal Williams, never made a deal to sell him a gun, never shot at the men and that powder found in his pocket was flour.